Since an initial study that was published in February 2017 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that showed rates of colorectal cancer have increased for every generation born since 1950, newer studies are emerging each year showing the worrisome trend and with headlines like: “If you’re under 30, your risk for colon cancer just doubled.” “Study finds colorectal cancer rates have risen dramatically in Gen X and millennials.” “Colorectal cancer rates soar in younger people.”

Colorectal cancer cases are indeed rising exponentially in adults in the late twenties, in their 30s and 40s globally. In 2019, it is expected that there will be about 3.5 million new cases of colorectal cancer globally, and another 800,000 individuals already diagnosed previously will die from it.

The incidences colorectal cancer among those above 50 remains the same.

There is no real substantiated reason for this increases among the younger adults but many blame it on processed foods, processed meats, fast foods, fast coffee, sugar-laced foods, viral infections, fungal infections, alcohol, smoking, new social drugs, microbiome alterations in the gut due to the previous listed items or even due to certain medications and drugs. Individuals who suffer from long term inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis or even IBS are prone to also develop colorectal cancer.

We are not 100 percent sure why younger people seem to be at increased risk for colorectal cancer. But changes in diet and lifestyles among younger generations likely have contributed to the increases we are witnessing.

Typically colorectal cancerarises from the inner lining of the large intestine, also known as mucosa. It usually begins as an abnormal growth, or polyp, that forms in the colon or rectum. Symptoms might not be readily apparent; rather, they show up as the disease progresses. Common symptoms can include: abdominal pain, blood in the stool, constipation, diarrhea, decreased appetite and weight loss

Any diagnosis of an iron deficiency could be cause for concern, especially for men. Any man with an iron deficiency should be screened for colorectal cancer. In women, blood loss during the menstrual cycle is the usual cause for iron deficiency, but any iron deficiency without a recognized cause is reason to be screened.

These symptoms are vague when one considers the entire body system. However, it’s important that patients be aware of these symptoms and never assume they’re too young to get colorectal cancer. Studies show that younger people are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage colorectal cancer because they assume their symptoms are due to something less serious. Some patients, for example, who experienced blood in their stool and figured it was hemorrhoids or had abdominal pain and thought it was irritable bowel syndrome.

It is especially important that patients see a doctor if they experience persistent symptoms, even if they’re younger than 45.

Patients with a family history of colorectal cancer should talk to their doctor about getting their first colonoscopy 10 years before the earliest onset of anybody in the family. That is, if a patient’s mother was diagnosed at 52, the patient should be getting screened at age 42. To ensure that insurance covers this, patients should speak with their doctor.

As with most cancers, the sooner colorectal cancer is diagnosed, the more likely that treatment will be effective. With a coloscopy or similar screening, patients can have cancerous tumors detected early and removed, as well as polyps that have the potential to turn into cancer. Polyps are small tissue growths commonly found arising from inner lining of the colon.

Colorectal cancer treatment varies among patients based on tumor type and location, as well as on a patient’s overall health and lifestyle. Typically, it recommended that a combination of surgery (usually a minimally invasive procedure), chemotherapy and radiation depending on each individual case.

Given the growing number of colorectal cancer cases in young adults, it is important to be aware of potential risks factors, symptoms, and guideline recommendations to detect the disease at an early stage.

Thailand Medical News highly recommends that individuals maintain a proper diet that includes no processed foods, fast foods, coffee, sugar, fats but instead to eat more organic and raw foods including vegetables of various colours, to stay away from alcohol, drugs and smoking, adopt more physical regiments including exercising and yoga, less stress, partake in meditations, safe sex and monogamy(to prevent viral infections thru sexual contacts), maintain strong hygiene standards and to enjoy all these new regimens with a positive frame of mind.